China pledges more aid for Syrian refugees
February 5, 2016, 5:33 am

UN and relief agency workers saw starving people, malnourished children in two besieged Syrian areas last month [Xinhua]

A major international donor conference in London on Thursday has raised more than $10 billion to help millions of Syrians displaced by war.

Speaking at the Supporting Syria and the Region conference in London, Wang said China endorses this conference aimed at increasing humanitarian assistance to Syria, and hopes the gathering can make new efforts to realize peace and stability in Syria and help ease the humanitarian situation.

“Solving the humanitarian problems in Syria necessitates not only emergency aid, but also needs to eliminate their root causes,” Wang said.

Currently, the most urgent task is to ensure the basic living conditions of the Syrian refugees and the displaced people, Wang noted.

Different parties in Syria should implement relevant UN resolutions and provide humanitarian access to those in need and ensure the swift delivery of humanitarian supplies, said the Chinese foreign minister.

Different countries should also lend a helping hand and provide emergency aid to Syria and its neighbouring countries that have sheltered Syrian refugees, and take action to help the refugees find jobs and help the children receive necessary education, he said.

The UN should sum up its experience, design a comprehensive roadmap and mobilize resources globally to cope with the situation, Wang said.

The United Nations and countries in the region had said they needed $9 billion in assistance just in 2016 as the situation in and near Syria deteriorates.

The Chinese Foreign Minister stressed that the international community should also step up efforts to seek a political solution to the Syria conflict, which is the ultimate way of solving the country’s humanitarian crisis.

The resumption of peace talks is a key part of this political process in Syria, and the warring parties should give priority to the overall interests of their country and their people, and seize the opportunity of peace talks to show their goodwill and sincerity, Wang continued.

The foreign minister said China has been providing humanitarian assistance to Syria and the region through various channels.

At the G20 summit last year, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced an additional 100 million U.S. dollars humanitarian assistance to help improve the living conditions of the refugees and the displaced people.

Xi, during a visit to the Middle East last month, also promised 230 million yuan of additional humanitarian assistance this year to the people of Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya and Yemen.

China will further donate 10,000 tonnes of food to help ease the food shortages among Syria refugees, Wang announced Thursday.

China will continue to offer its help to the Syrian people and the refugees, and make positive contributions to alleviate the humanitarian crisis, and play a constructive role in facilitating a political solution to the Syrian crisis, he said.

Britain, Germany, Kuwait, Norway, and the United Nations co-hosted the Supporting Syria and the Region in London Thursday to raise significant new funding to meet the immediate and longer-term needs of those affected.

Source: Agencies